MELBOURNE: Kim Clijsters began her bid to defend the Australian Open title when she beat qualifier Maria Joao Koehler 7-5, 6-1 in a first-round match Monday.
Clijsters broke Koehler's serve at love in the final game of the opening set.
That started a 13-point run for Clijsters that included three double faults by Koehler in the second game of the second set to give the Belgian player a 2-0 lead.
Clijsters has not lost in the first round of a major since the 2000 French Open.